Police and a section of the Sikh community clashed near Jammu on Wednesday after posters depicting slain Sikh militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale were reportedly removed during a religious event.

Two policemen were injured during the protest against the removal of the posters from Rani Bagh area near Jammu, police said.

Senior officials said the Sikh community had organised a religious ceremony in remembrance of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The community has been organising the three-day event since 1985.

Sikh protesters pelt stones at the police for removing a poster of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale near the airport in Jammu

However, tension gripped the Satwari area of Jammu after police on Wednesday morning removed the posters depicting Bhindranwale.

Facing opposition from the local people, the event’s organisers claimed that over the years such posters were never objected to.

After the police removed the posters, scores of people marched towards the Jammu-RS Pura road. They blocked the road, demanding action against the policemen who removed the posters.

The protesters also clashed with the police.

A group of Sikh youths attacked the police when they tried to control the situation. Two policemen were injured in the incident

SSP Jammu Uttam Chand told Mail Today that when policemen tried to control the situation they were attacked by a group of youths with sharp weapons, wounding two policemen.

“We have registered an FIR in the case,” he said.

Later, Jammu Deputy Commissioner Simrandeep Singh and Uttam Chand held talks with the Sikh community leaders and subsequently protesters dispersed.

According to the Sikh leaders, they were assured by the administration that Satwari SHO Inspector Kulbir Choudhary would be suspended and shifted from the police station.

They also said the administration has assured that the poster of Bhindranwale would be reinstated.

However, Jammu SSP said the posters were removed by the police and the leaders of the community were persuaded not to paste such posters in future. He said the SHO Kulbir shall not be shifted.

On the other hand, Jammu Deputy Commissioner Simrandeep Singh told Mail Today that he has directed the police to return the posters to the concerned people.

“Since posters were their property they will be returned to them. However, for pasting the posters they need prior permission from the administration. They cannot paste them without permission,” he said.

Army has been called to instill confidence among the people following the clashes

Police personnel in action against pro-Bhindranwale protesters during a clash in Jammu on Thursday PTI

Tension gripped temple city of Jammu on Thursday when police opened fire on the pro-Bhindranwale protestors killing a youth and injuring three others at Gadigarh area in the Jammu city.

Authorities have clamped curfew like restrictions in Satwari and Gadigarh areas as a precautionary measure to prevent the situation from getting out of the control.

Eyewitnesses said violent clashes rocked the area after the Sikh youths protested against the removal of the posters eulogising the slain Khalistani leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, ahead of anniversary Operation Blue Star on June 6.

Police had to open fire when protestors armed with sticks and kirpans pelted stones on the forces. A youth Jagjit Singh suffered bullet wounds and later succumbed in the hospital Director General of Police (DGP), Jammu and Kashmir Koondaveeti Rajendra Kumar told dna that there were clashes between police and protestors over the display of a banner of Bhindranwale.

"The protestors turned violent resulting in the injuries to some policemen. To control the situation police had to open fire in which one person died and three others were injured," he said.

The DGP noted that they have imposed the restrictions in Satwari area under section 144 CrPC. "Some police personnel were also injured. An ASI was stabbed on Wednesday. We have imposed restrictions under section 144," said Kumar.

Tension started mounting on Wednesday when the posters of Bhindranwale put by pro Khalistani groups were removed by the police in the area. Protestors assembled in the area and attacked the cops with sticks and kirpans (knives) injuring three policemen.

On Thursday the posters of Bhindranwale were again put up in the Sikh neighbourhood in the Gadigarh area. However the posters were again removed triggering a chain reaction with protestors blocking the road and torching the tyres.

Protestors later clashed with the police which resorted to lathi-charge and fired smoke shells to disperse the mob. Later police fired on the protestors leaving one youth dead and there others injured. Some people then barged into a neighbouring locality and shot at and injured a barber in a tit for tat action. "Barber is now ok," said the DGP.

The police firing has evoked a sharp reaction from Sikh groups which have demanded a judicial probe into the incident. "We demand a judicial probe into the incident. The probe should also find out on whose orders the police opened fire on the peaceful protestors," said Jagmohan Singh Raina, chairman of All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee.

Strongly condemning the killing of Jagjit Singh, Dal Khalsa blamed BJP for what they said "playing dangerous game to silence the voices of minorities".

"Removing of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale's posters was BJP's design aimed to provoke Sikh youth. Jammu police has unleashed a reign of terror on protesting Sikhs and showed their barbaric face. Police barbarism was the repeat of what they have been doing with the valley Muslims since decades," said Dal Khalsa leaders Satnam Singh and Kanwar Pal Singh in a joint statement.

Safe haven for Khalistani terorists
Pro-Khalistani forces have always used Jammu as safe haven after the peace returned to Punjab after violent phase of militancy. For the last two decades several Khalistani militant leaders were arrested from different areas of Jammu which has sizebale population of Sikhs.

In September 2010 Punjab police arrested most wanted militant of Khalistan Zindabad Force Balbir Singh alias Pinka from Jammu, 13 years after he triggered a massive bomb blast at Pathanakote in which 10 people were killed and 40 others injured. In April 2008 police foiled a major plan of ultras to assassinate Baba Ram Rahim of Dera Sacha Sauda when they arrested three Khalistani militants from Jammu.

WTH is this....................................................................... Export them to Lahore....

Click to expand...

Nopes, just a matter of time. Congress could be behind this. Anyways, good for them, their case of getting an asylum gets stronger with such protests. But of course there will be a black spot on country's face.

They get the asylum and once they get citizenship in some cases, they become Indian again

Nopes, just a matter of time. Congress could be behind this. Anyways, good for them, their case of getting an asylum gets stronger with such protests. But of course there will be a black spot on country's face.

They get the asylum and once they get citizenship in some cases, they become Indian again

WTH is this....................................................................... Export them to Lahore....

Click to expand...

No keep them here and let them miss the train again.

Let them cross the line and then get good treatment from the state machinery; which they will then cry victim off. Let them start the same vicious circle again, India is big enough to endure their repeated stupidities.

Let them cross the line and then get good treatment from the state machinery; which they will then cry victim off. Let them start the same vicious circle again, India is big enough to endure their repeated stupidities.

Its really sad because this community is the one in the service of the country for such a long time. Their valour really knows no bounds, but these bad apples do them a big dis-service.

Click to expand...

Every one wants to be in fame. They are the same sikhs who also visit Vaishno Devi mandir , so it is more politically motivated drama. Not emotional. Finally Bhinderwala was congressi only who was dumped by Congress during Punjab elections of end 70's and begin of 80's .

Every one wants to be in fame. They are the same sikhs who also visit Vaishno Devi mandir , so it is more politically motivated drama. Not emotional. Finally Bhinderwala was congressi only who was dumped by Congress during Punjab elections of end 70's and begin of 80's .

Yes but this scene is too scary to even contemplate any more... This Bhindranwale ghost seems to never get laid to rest.

Click to expand...

And it will never. As this is used by both BJP and Congress to create disturbances. Of course the third party which is CIA/ISI/MI6 takes the advantage of it to promote their agenda. Here it is about article 370. If such things continue, then I am afraid that this will create a problematic situation for us in resettling the Kashmiris in Srinagar.

We don't have another Indira Gandhi...................................................

Click to expand...

Its never about leader, Its always about Institutions. The integrity of India is non negotiable.

India has seen worst than what they could even dream of perpetrating. The Institutional memory of union of India is still intact and if they are lucky there will be better response than what they got last time.

These fools will end up becoming branded criminals and with broken families.

BTW we should treat this anarchy as a local incident not a big phenomenon; having said that they must be ridiculed before some political party uses these few to make things worst.

Just keep an eye on NDTV, these NDTV bastards are not even saying Bhindrawala a terrorist, they will make sure it remains an open debate for then congress-I to pick up the issue at their convenience.

We are facing too many issues from all sides.... We should start expanding our territory that is the only way to give a strong message to all these nuisance makers... A bully is taken more seriously than a soft state.

And it will never. As this is used by both BJP and Congress to create disturbances. Of course the third party which is CIA/ISI/MI6 takes the advantage of it to promote their agenda. Here it is about article 370. If such things continue, then I am afraid that this will create a problematic situation for us in resettling the Kashmiris in Srinagar.

Even the most patriotic sikhs have a soft corner for Bhindranwale... so i really don't know what is going onwith these Khalistanis... There have been many attempts made to revive this movement and i think this vote bank politics has really endangered the integrity and unity of this country.
Politicians never really took seriously all that was going on in north east and look what's happening now. Kashmir hasn't been at peace since nineties and even now new groups are cropping up. We have resolved not ONE secession movement to date.... And this bhindranwale has become a ghost who is going to haunt us forever....

Its never about leader, Its always about Institutions. The integrity of India is non negotiable.

India has seen worst than what they could even dream of perpetrating. The Institutional memory of union of India is still intact and if they are lucky there will be better response than what they got last time.

These fools will end up becoming branded criminals and with broken families.

BTW we should treat this anarchy as a local incident not a big phenomenon; having said that they must be ridiculed before some political party uses these few to make things worst.

Just keep an eye on NDTV, these NDTV bastards are not even saying Bhindrawala a terrorist, they will make sure it remains an open debate for then congress-I to pick up the issue at their convenience.

We are facing too many issues from all sides.... We should start expanding our territory that is the only way to give a strong message to all these nuisance makers... A bully is taken more seriously than a soft state.

We have plenty of disputed areas, we should start making inroads.... China is trying to do that to us... Its high time we realize nobody is going to resolve disputes in our favor we will have to do it ourselves.. That's how wars were won through the ages and this logic holds good even today...

We have plenty of disputed areas, we should start making inroads.... China is trying to do that to us... Its high time we realize nobody is going to resolve disputes in our favor we will have to do it ourselves.. That's how wars were won through the ages and this logic holds good even today...

Click to expand...

Let enemy make road for us, and when war start we will utilize these roads to encroach inside their territory. This is cheaper

Even the most patriotic sikhs have a soft corner for Bhindranwale... so i really don't know what is going onwith these Khalistanis... There have been many attempts made to revive this movement and i think this vote bank politics has really endangered the integrity and unity of this country.
Politicians never really took seriously all that was going on in north east and look what's happening now. Kashmir hasn't been at peace since nineties and even now new groups are cropping up. We have resolved not ONE secession movement to date.... And this bhindranwale has become a ghost who is going to haunt us forever....

Click to expand...

Indian politicians do maro-management, they are not an organized powers like China's CCP is. But then every state has deeper state within. In India's case it unleashes itself when push come to the shove. Anything below that threshold is yours and mine or ordinary citizen's daily misery like now that township is facing in Jammu.

As far as why Bhindrawala is getting more popular is concern then it can be a very complex issue to explain. During insurgency the central government had great hold on all the possible propaganda machinery the right wingers could use. Then there was certain fear of prompt action by the state. Today every thing is back to normal. The name of Bhindrawala has become ''right to speech'' when many years ago it could have made you target practice and some medals for police.